The forest quieted as the massive forms of Gamabunta and Shukaku faded, leaving behind a scarred landscape and two exhausted boys lying in the dirt. Naruto lay flat on his back, bruised and battered but grinning at the sky. Gaara lay nearby, his sand armor shattered, a look of profound, terrified confusion on his face as he stared at the boy who had fought not to kill him, but to acknowledge him.
I supported Sasuke, who watched the scene with a complex expression—a mix of relief, shock, and a biting envy. He saw it clearly now. The "dead-last" had surpassed him.
Sakura and Pakkun arrived moments later, frantic and relieved. I let Sakura take over supporting Sasuke. It was better for the team dynamics I had cultivated (Observation Mission, Chapter 22).
"Namekaze," Sasuke murmured as Sakura fussed over his injuries. "You... you knew Naruto was this strong?"
"Potential is a seed, Sasuke," I replied, deactivating my Sharingan, letting the exhaustion finally bleed into my posture. "Naruto just watered his with a lot more sweat than anyone gave him credit for."
We made our way back to the village walls in silence. The sounds of battle had ceased, replaced by an ominous, heavy stillness. Smoke rose in thick, black pillars from the center of Konoha.
When we reached the gates, the news hit us like a physical blow. The invasion had been repelled. The Sand and Sound forces were retreating. But the price...
The Third Hokage was dead.
The days that followed were a blur of gray. The sky seemed to mourn with the village, a ceaseless drizzle washing the soot from the streets but doing nothing for the grief in our hearts.
I sat in my room at the orphanage, the heavy silence of the mourning period amplifying the hum of the Evolution System. I had 595 EP. It was a staggering amount, a war chest earned in blood. But with the Third Dead, the power vacuum would attract sharks. Itachi was coming. I knew the timeline. He would return to the village shortly after the invasion to check on Sasuke and Naruto, using the hunt for the Kyuubi as a cover.
I needed to be ready. Not just to survive, but to stand on a stage where S-rank missing-nin walked.
I pulled the Skill Book: Shadow Clone Jutsu from my inventory—the reward from the Head Hunters fight. It was a shimmering, digital-looking tome. I touched it.
Item Consumed: Skill Book - Shadow Clone Jutsu.Skill Learned: Kage Bunshin no Jutsu (B-Rank).Mastery Level: Instant.
Knowledge flooded my mind. The chakra molding, the equal distribution, the memory feedback. This was the key to accelerated training.
Now, the EP.
"System," I commanded internally. "I need stamina. I need reserves that won't dry up after one S-rank jutsu."
Purchase Confirmed: Chakra Capacity Boost (Jonin-Level) (300 EP). Current EP: 295.Chakra Levels Updated: Jonin (Low).
The surge was incredible. It wasn't just a pool anymore; it was a lake. I felt my coils expand, thickening to handle the load. I flexed my hand, feeling the density of the energy.
"Now, a deterrent. Something to counter the visual prowess of those who rely on sight."
Purchase Confirmed: Genjutsu: Bringer of Darkness (A-Rank) (150 EP). Current EP: 145.Skill Unlocked: Kokuangyo no Jutsu.
A technique used by the Hashirama (in the anime) / Tobirama (in the manga). It blinded the opponent, removing their sight while leaving other senses intact. Against a Sharingan user who wasn't Itachi, it was devastating. Against Itachi... well, it might buy me a second.
Current EP: 145.
I saved the rest.
The funeral was a sea of black. Every shinobi in the village stood in silent rows before the portrait of Hiruzen Sarutobi. The rain mingled with tears.
I stood with Team 11. Gai-sensei was weeping openly, silent rivers streaming down his face, his usual boisterous energy replaced by a deep, respectful sorrow. Akio and Ren looked lost, the reality of the ninja world finally crushing their youthful naivety.
I looked across the rows. Naruto stood with Iruka, crying but looking determined. Sasuke stood apart, his eyes dry, staring at the Hokage's picture with a dark intensity. He wasn't mourning the Hokage; he was mourning his own lack of power, his inability to stop anything.
I moved slightly, stepping out of line to stand beside Sasuke. He didn't look at me, but he didn't move away.
"It rains," I said softly, "so the sky can hide our tears."
"I'm not crying," Sasuke replied, his voice a shard of ice.
"I know," I said. "You're angry. You feel weak because you couldn't stop Gaara. Because Naruto had to do it."
Sasuke's knuckles turned white. "He... he keeps getting ahead of me. And you... you have the same eyes, the same blood, but you're miles ahead too. What am I doing wrong, Namekaze?"
"You're trying to run a marathon in a sprint, Sasuke," I whispered, leaning closer so only he could hear. "Power isn't just hatred. It's protection. Naruto fought to protect. I fought to protect. You fought... to prove yourself."
I let the words hang there. It was a risky nudge, pushing against his "Avenger" persona.
"The village is weak right now," Sasuke muttered, looking at the Hokage's face. "Someone will come to test us."
"They will," I agreed, my Three-Tomoe Sharingan flashing briefly behind my eyelids as I sensed the atmosphere. "And we will be ready. Meet me at the training ground 7 tomorrow at dawn. If you want to know how I use these eyes... I'll show you."
Sasuke turned to me, his eyes widening slightly. "You'll teach me?"
"I'll spar with you. What you learn is up to you."
The funeral ended. As the crowd dispersed, I looked up at the grey sky. Somewhere, on the outskirts of the village, or perhaps already within its walls, red clouds were gathering. Two figures in black cloaks with red clouds were approaching.
Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki.
The "Search for Tsunade" arc was about to begin, but before Naruto could leave with Jiraiya, the brothers would reunite. And this time, there was a third Uchiha waiting in the wings.
New Mission Unlocked: The Brother's ShadowObjective: Intervene in the confrontation between Itachi and the Jonin. Prevent Kakashi from suffering permanent Tsukuyomi damage (Optional). Survive.Reward: 500 EP, Mangekyo Awareness (0/100).
The System pinged. Mangekyo Awareness. It wasn't an unlock, but it was a progress bar. The path to the next evolution had revealed itself.